Three British Muslims were convicted Sept. 7 of plotting to murder thousands by downing at least seven trans-Atlantic airliners in simultaneous attacks designed by al-Qaida to be the deadliest terrorist strike since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, Assad Sarwar, 29, and Tanvir Hussain, 28, were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court in London of leading a plan to detonate bombs on aircraft bound for the United States and Canada, using liquid explosives hidden in soda bottles.

Four other men were acquitted of conspiring to bomb airliners but admitted lesser charges, including, in one case, conspiracy to murder.

An eighth man was cleared completely.

British and U.S. security officials said the plan was directly linked to al-Qaida and guided by senior Islamic militants in Pakistan.